Cause 8. Hormonal Imbalance and Amyloidosis: The Role of Hormones in Protein Misfolding
In the vast interplay of factors that can contribute to amyloidosis, one that often flies under the radar is hormonal imbalance. The endocrine system, responsible for producing and regulating hormones in the body, plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. When this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to a cascade of health issues, including the development of a specific form of amyloidosis known as endocrine amyloidosis.
In some endocrine diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and medullary thyroid cancer, there can be an overproduction of certain hormones or hormone-related proteins. For example, in type 2 diabetes, there is an overproduction of a hormone called amylin (also known as islet amyloid polypeptide). In medullary thyroid cancer, calcitonin, a hormone involved in calcium homeostasis, is produced in excess.
In these conditions, the surplus of these hormones can lead to their aggregation into amyloid fibrils, which then deposit in various organs and tissues. In type 2 diabetes, these deposits often occur in the pancreas, while in medullary thyroid cancer, they can be found in the thyroid and other tissues. (8)
